The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-27
A JOURNEY THROUGH CHINA
The Manners and Customs of a Peculiar
People as Told by Close Observer.
Their Work, ADJUSTMENTS Oddities and Spir-
itualism Interestingly Described by DR..
Parkhurst at Roberts Park Church.

In his lecture last evening, at Roberts Park
Church. DIR. Parkhurst abandoned his an
nounced programme, and treated his audience
instead with illustrated trip from Japan
through to America In one sense it was more
interesting, as it took the nearer through more
countries, and showed him create r variety of
people. architecture, and scenery. In another
it less interesting, because little
time was given TO each.
The first country travelled through was China.
DR. Parkhurst said: 1.-THE upper classes of the
Chinese are the most coneeited people on earth.
Their bearing at ali times is naughty and pomp-
GUS. They cannot understand why the ignorant
barbarians OF this country and Europe should
send missionaries TO them. The Chinese OF the
higher classes are large men. The masses of
whom you see examples in this country, are
small This is due to their stinted supplies of
food Their food allowance is never regulated by
their hunger, but always by their needs and their
ability to buy. An average Hoosier will eat
about four times much as ChinamaD, Jap
Hindoo Of the lower classes In China
You almost always tell whether a man is
from the higher or lower classes by his SIZE"
China is an extensive country. The principal
river, the Yang rse-Kiane is the third river for
length. Pekin is SO far north that it is blocked
by snow for several months in the year. China
is q country of walls, towers and fltn. The eye
Is RECALLED and the nose assailed on all hands
to this country. but they will. They cannot be
kept out The man who does the best work for
the least money will get the work. The remedy
is to compete with brains against their muscles
Make them servants by superior intelligence.
They are great people for amusements
kite-hyIue is favorite sport for men. Ihey
make large and Enthusiastically shaped kites.
They fasten cut glass to the kite strings and
then cross strings. and try to make each other
lose kites by saving strings in two. Theaters
usually held in the open air. The pro-
grammes are a series of pictures OF the differ
ent scenes instead of descriptive words.
Relatives ccngregate in China. In one Will
Age can be- found all the people Browns. In an
other they are all Joneses. The village govern
ment is patriarchsl. the oldest person ruling,
whether man or woman. There are said to be on
iy two hundred family names in all China, which
accounts for the similarity of the names of those
who como to this country. They are spiritual
lists, and the spritism of this country is tame by
the side of theirs. When they start to sea they
throw gilt paper, which they call spirit money
on the water to propitiate the spirits of drowned
persons who are supposed to dwell there. Their
streets are never straight. They short
distance straight aud then jog squarelv to one
side, and then on again. / asked a Chinaman
the reason of this He said it was account
the spirits: that they could not see we'll. and
when they were following man, If he lodged
around corner they would run into the wall
ahead, and then turn around and 60 back. The
Chinese women are all without character. They
are tauRhs to obey any man who commands
them. LIZ man wire goes away with another
man, he may punish the man but never
blames her. If China 10 to be brought
to Christianity it will be necessary to send
women missionaries to teach the Chinese women.
There ought to be five women missionaries sent
to one man. The greatest curse of China is
opium. Its use is increasing. They now raise
it themselves and it looks like it would ruin
this frugal, Industrious nation"
From China the lecturer passed to India. He
considered British rule in India a benefit to the
country. and said the common people recog-
nized it as such. The reason OF the continual
conflict between Russia and Great Britain over
the Afghanstan country is that it affords the
only access to India for armies except by
The Himalaya as are impossible for troops. He
saw two hundred miles in which there was no
pass that mountaineer would attempt. The
passes of Afehanistan held by native troops
in British pay, differed Dy Euglishmen.
From India he skipped to Italy. thence to
Scotland. and last to Ireland. In each country
views OF the buildings and scenery were given,
closing with view of Queenstown harbor The
audience was small. but appreciative. and the
lecture was enjoyed by all who heard it.